Four teams can win league, says Rayon’s Ntagwabira

RAYON Sports coach Jean Marie Ntagwabira thinks this year’s Primus league race is one of the most competitive in years, with four teams in the hot race to win. The former APR and Atraco coach, who also doubles as the national team assistant coach, acknowledges that up to six teams could actually be involved in the title challenge. With three rounds of matches before the end of the first round, only six points separate league leaders Mukura and sixth placed Kiyovu, who will represent the country in the CAF Confederation Cup next month. Talking to Times Sports yesterday the former Rwandan international hinted on his club making one or two signings soon and added that this year’s title race will involve champions APR, Police, Mukura, Etincelles, Kiyovu and Rayon. “The race this year is more difficult and unpredictable than it has been in the last couple of seasons. All teams improved their squads significantly and (the traditional) big teams cannot expect to pick up three points without hard work. “It reminds me of the mid nineties, when three clubs; Kiyovu and Rayon Sports used to fight it out. This year, it could be 4 or six clubs,” stated Ntagwabira, the first local coach to win league titles with two different clubs (APR and Atraco). Rayon Sports are tied in third position with APR on 15 points; five behind leaders Mukura albeit having played a game less than the Huye based side, who escaped relegation last season on the last day. With local football becoming more competitive, this could be the perfect tonic for the Football Association (Ferwafa) to lure sponsors considering that Bralirwa’s Rwf335m sponsorship of the top flight league winds up in July. ostine.arinaitwe@newtimes.co.rw